Three years ago, the Pope gave his support to same-sex civil unions. However, the recent statement has left room for interpretation.
Pope Francis has suggested that he would be open to the idea of the Catholic Church blessing same-sex couples, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC.
The Pope responded to a group of cardinals who asked him for clarity on the matter. He said that all requests for blessings should be approached with “priestly love”.
– We cannot be judges who only deny, reject and exclude, the Pope commented.
However, he added that the church still considers same-sex relationships “objectively sinful” and would not recognize same-sex marriage.
The cardinals’ request was one of several sent to the pope ahead of the weeks-long gathering to discuss the future of the Catholic Church. The meeting has started in the Vatican today, Wednesday.
In several countries, priests already bless couples
In the Catholic Church, a blessing is a prayer usually recited by a priest asking God to look favorably on the person or group to be blessed.
Bishops in several countries have allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, for example in Belgium and Germany. But the church’s position has remained unclear.
Now the change in tone may seem significant, but for example, in the spring of 2021, Pope Francis approved a Vatican decree that prohibited priests from blessing same-sex unions.
At that time it was emphasized that such relationships are sinful and cannot be blessed. Earlier this year the Pope spoke that homosexuality is not a crime, but he called it a sin.
The Pope has not clearly said what would be possible to bless: the union of the couple or the people who want the blessing. The Pope spoke on a more general level about people who want a blessing. According to the Pope, a request for a blessing is a request to God for help so that a person can live better, and according to the Pope, this cannot be denied to a person.
The Pope said that the Church understands marriage as a union between a man and a woman. According to the Pope, the Church should avoid anything that could contradict this. But he added that a request for a blessing is a request for help that cannot be denied.
The Pope has been interpreted as suggesting that the blessing should be considered on a case-by-case basis. He added that the church should always approach its relations with people “with kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness and encouragement.”
Pope Francis has been marked by efforts to soften the church’s language on issues such as sexuality. This has angered conservatives.
For example three years ago there was newsthat Pope Francis became the first pope to support same-sex civil unions.